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Roaring, snarling dinosaurs return to N.C. Zoo

ASHEBORO — Some appear friendly, others are menacing and a few are just plain cute.

Dinosaurs have returned to the N.C. Zoo.

This year, 13 different species inhabit the zoo’s dinosaur park, located on Dino Trail between the Forest Aviary and African Pavilion, through October.

Their roars, shrieks and snarls beckon visitors onto a forested pathway, lined with a wide variety of ancient plants — from Spanish moss and ferns to Southern Magnolias and cedars.

“What amazes me is that it is even better than last year,” N.C. Zoo Director Dr. David Jones said Thursday at the 2013 Dinosaurs media preview.

“There’s a lot more color, variety and different shapes. … You see much more movement than last year.”

The realistic-looking dinosaurs are definitely more active. Their movements seem able to propel the creatures to walk, run or even fly, their moving eyes focused on intruders to their park.

Watch out for the four Coelophysus (there’s one separate from the trio) who seem capable of living up to their reputation of being fast-moving carnivorous creatures. Or the roaring Deltadromeus, another swift runner.

A very unusual species is the Pachycephalosaurus, which is odd looking because it seems to be wearing a layered, beaded necklace on part of his bone-topped head.

The most imposing creature is the Giganotosaurus, Giga for short. This 22-foot-tall and 45-foot-long “Giant Southern Lizard” was believed to be larger than T-Rex and towers over everyone at the zoo.

“It looks alive,” a zoo visitor exclaimed. “Oh, my God,” said a younger one as he walked up to it.

Some thought this dinosaur was T-Rex, but they learned otherwise upon reading the interpretative sign for the Giga.

Another new species is the Quetzalcoatlus, which was actually a pterosaur, a winged lizard, and one of the largest known flying animals of all time. He seems like he’s ready to jump and soar from a rock top as he towers over zoo visitors.

Two dinosaur species have returned from last year for 2013: Dilophosaurus and Triceratops.

The breathing Triceratops elicits thoughts about why it’s on the ground, a carnivorous dinosaur, an Acrocanthosaurus, standing and roaring just behind it.

And the Dilophosaurus awaits zoo visitors near where a pair was last year along the path — its spitting distance a lot larger than in 2012. He’ll be a tremendous hit when the weather gets hot this summer.

Other species this year include the Parasaurolophus (there’s seven of them), Amargasaurus, Citipati, Deltadromeus, Edmontonia and Styracosaurus.

One can also visit the kids’ fossil dig or paleontologist tent and have photographs taken at a T-Rex or Jeep.

The dinosaurs, created by Billings Productions in Texas based on the latest research about the prehistoric creatures, are fitted with their own electronic brain to control the movements and produce sounds.

The realistic movements are powered by a pneumatic system that enables the dinosaurs to move smoothly and precisely. Each is built on a steel frame with hydraulic movements that include grasping hands, menacing claws and gnashing teeth.

Zoo officials brought Dinosaurs, the largest outdoor special exhibit, to the state park last year as a way to attract visitors in the absence of the popular polar bears. The polar bear exhibit is being renovated and enlarged to accommodate more of them and is expected to fully open next year. The zoo’s kidZone has also been undergoing renovation.

And the new attraction was a hit — the zoo had it largest attendance in 15 years.

Last year, Grays Chapel Elementary students helped zoo staff with the species selections. This year, the zoo used input via Facebook and student visitors last year to help this year’s choices.

A three-member team visited the Billings plant to make this year’s choices and decide on the dinosaurs’ coloring. Members were Ron Ferguson of the horticulture division, Steve Gerkin from the education division and Diane Villa of the design staff. Also providing input was John Groves, curator of reptiles and amphibians.

The zoo’s nearby 4-D Theatre at Junction Plaza is also featuring “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” for 2013.

Individual tickets are $4 for the Dinosaurs and $3 for the 4-D Theatre.

Combo passes, which include regular zoo admission, are $16 for adults; $14 for seniors, 62 and older; and $12 for children, ages 2-12. The combo passes include three tickets which can be used in any combination for the Dinosaurs, 4-D Theatre and the Endangered Species Carousel (which costs $2 for an individual ticket).

For more information about the zoo and tips for visitors for Easter weekend, which is traditionally the biggest attendance period of the year, visit the zoo’s website at www.nc.zoo.org.